Local NHS trusts receive high praise from staff

9 March 2015

Results of the national 2014 NHS staff survey show that staff working for South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Torbay Hospital, and staff at Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust give the trusts a resounding ‘thumbs-up’.

The survey results, published in February 2015, highlight excellent levels of staff engagement and both trusts continue to score above the national average in staff’s recommendation of the trust as a place to work or receive treatment. Results reveal further positive feedback with staff rating the trusts better than average or average in 21 out of the 28 categories, including:

“Feedback from staff is essential in reviewing how we’re doing so we can continue to improve our services and working practices. It’s fantastic that our staff scored the trusts in the best 20 per cent and above average nationally across a number of key areas, one of which is staff engagement. This is a really important finding and includes indicators such as whether staff would recommend the trust as a place to work or receive treatment.”

The results from the survey also identified a number of areas for improvement which include: ensuring all staff have well-structured appraisals; increasing the reporting of errors, near misses or incidents witnessed by staff; and decreasing the number of staff who experience physical violence, harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or the public.

Martin added: “We recognise that there are number of areas where we fall slightly below the national average. We have been working hard to address these issues and already we are seeing positive results. Overall, I am delighted that so many of our staff responded to this survey and have such positive views of the trusts.”

The annual national survey was issued to a random sample of staff in September 2014 seeking their views about their jobs and the working environment at the trusts. Over 50 per cent of staff responded which was above the national average.

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